Eddie Murphy Brooklyn, New York Eddie Murphy is among three top black film actors. His 38 movies have averaged a gross of over $100 million each. He is a leading man, and the highest grossing comedian in film. Known For Beverly Hills Cop (1984) Trading Places (1983) Coming to America (1988) Norbit (2007) Voice Over: Shrek movies Morgan Freeman Memphis, Tennessee Morgan Freeman is among three top black film actors. He had a deep, memorable voice which makes him a very valuable announcer and voice over actor. He has made a staggering number of films and is second only to Tom Hanks in lifetime box office totals. Known For The Shawshank Redemption The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Se7en Se7en (1995) Driving Miss Daisy Driving Miss Daisy (1989) Million Dollar Baby Million Dollar Baby (2004) Oscar winner Voice Over: The Lego Movie Samuel L. Jackson Washington, D.C. Samuel L. Jackson is among the top three black film actors. He has acted in more than 62 movies, among the most of any actor. He is the only top black actor to have starred in a trilogy, and he has been in two of them. His early career featured evil characters, but he has played mostly good guys since 1999. Nominated for Oscar: Pulp Fiction Known For Pulp Fiction Pulp Fiction (1994) Django Unchained Django Unchained (2012) The Incredibles The Incredibles (2004) Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) Voice Over: The Incredibles Will Smith Philadelphia Will Smith has done it all with charisma. Everyone loves him. He got his start as a rapper with DJ Jazzy Jeff in 1985. He had some hit songs featuring his goofy raps, which inspired his unforgettable television sitcom: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. After three years on the show, he was cast in Independence Day and began a long career in film. He is a leading man. Hancock is one of my favorite movies. Known For Men in Black Men in Black (1997) I, Robot I, Robot (2004) I Am Legend I Am Legend (2007) The Pursuit of Happyness The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Hancock Twice Oscar Nominated Denzel Washington Mt. Vernon, New York Denzel Washington is an intense actor who is a leading man in successful dramas. He protrays brilliant, strong characters. Denzel Washington doesn't make kids movies. He is the actor to use if you anticipate your film winning an Oscar. Known For American Gangster American Gangster (2007) Training Day Training Day (2001) Man on Fire Man on Fire (2004) Inside Man Inside Man (2006) Flight (2012) Won two Oscars (Glory 1999 & Training Day 2001) Tyrese Gibson Watts, Los Angeles, California Tyrese Gibson is a young actor with fountains of charisma and box-office success. He has been in three Transformers movies and three Fast & Furious Movies. He often plays a character who clowns around. Has some leading man experience. Known For Transformers Transformers (2007) 2 Fast 2 Furious 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) Transformers: Dark of the Moon Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) Laurence Fishburne Augusta, Georgia and Brooklyn, NYC. Larry Fishburne was in Apocalypse Now when he was 14. Not exclusively cast as a bad guy, he's played a lot of villians. He was in the Marvel comics universe, as the voice of the Silver Surfer, but he's in the movies for D.C. comics universe now, playing Perry White, the Daily Planet publisher. He's got a Tony and an Emmy and he was nominated for an Oscar in 1994 (What's Love Got to Do with it?) Known For The Matrix The Matrix (1999) Mystic River Mystic River (2003) Apocalypse Now Apocalypse Now (1979) Event Horizon Event Horizon (1997) King of New York Oscar Nominated voice over: Osmosis Jones Jamie Foxx Terrell, Texas One of the most athletic men on this list. He was nominated for the Oscar in two categories for two movies in the same year. He won for Ray (2004), lost for Collateral (2004). He was an athelete in high school, a comedian in college and a top dramatic actor now. He is a leading man. He has been a villian Known For Django Unchained Django Unchained (2012) Collateral Collateral (2004) Ray Ray (2004) Law Abiding Citizen Law Abiding Citizen (2009) voice over: Rio Sidney Poitier The Bahamas & Miami Sidney Poitier was Hollywood's original black actor. He was the first black actor to have his handprints in the cement in front of Grummond's Chinese Theatre. He was the first African American to win an oscar for best actor (Lilies of the Field 1963). He directed "Stir Crazy" with Gene Wilder and Richard Simmons. He is a leading man. Known For In the Heat of the Night In the Heat of the Night (1967) The Jackal The Jackal (1997) Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) Lilies of the Field Lilies of the Field (1963) Won Oscar for Lilies of the Field (1963), nominated for The Defiant Ones (1958) Idris Elba London, England Idris Elba seems to have come out of nowhere to become the most trusted black actor in Hollywood. That's probably because I wasn't watching the Wire, where everyone else fell in love with him. He has a very interesting voice, putting him into contention for dramatic roles as a leader. Mandela Known For Prometheus Prometheus (2012) Pacific Rim Pacific Rim (2013) Thor Thor (2011) 28 Weeks Later 28 Weeks Later (2007) voice over: jungle book (2015) Tyler Perry From New Orleans, Louisiana. Tyler Perry does everything himself. He has his own studio, his own production company, he writes his own scripts and directs his own movies. He makes dramas, comedies and romanic comedies for black audiences. He is succeeding. Known For Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013) For Better or Worse For Better or Worse (2011) I Can Do Bad All by Myself I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) Diary of a Mad Black Woman Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) Michael Clarke Duncan Chicago, Il. Michael Clarke Duncan is a huge, good natured guy with a super deep voice. He worked as a bodyguard for singers and actors before breaking into the acting business. He was engaged to reality show villian Omarosa Manigault, who performed CPR when he had a heart attack. He died young. Known For The Green Mile (1999) Sin City (2005)Planet of the Apes (2001) Daredevil Daredevil (2003) Nominated for an Oscar (The Green Mile) voice over: Kung Fu Panda, Green Lantern, Air Buddies, Brother Bear Forest Whittaker Los Angeles, California Forest Whittaker is an example of that ultra-rare actor who can emerge from a career as a character actor to a leading man. He can do anything, and has a special section on his IMDB bio which recounts his exploits as a "challenging assignment" taker. I doubt he has ever been in a comedy. Known For Platoon Platoon (1986) The Last King of Scotland The Last King of Scotland (2006) Lee Daniels' The Butler Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013) Phone Booth Phone Booth (2002) Won an oscar for The Last King of Scotland (2006). voice over: Where the Wild Things Are Don Cheadle Kansas City, MO Don Cheadle has done it all. He was in Crash and Traffic. He was a leading man in Hotel Rwanda, he was part of the ensemble crime films Ocean's 11, 12 and 13, and he back-filled the role of Iron Man's pal James Rhodes after Terrence Howard left the trilogy. He is thin, but doesn't do comedy. Known For Crash Crash (2004) Iron Man 3 Iron Man 3 (2013) Iron Man 2 Iron Man 2 (2010) Hotel Rwanda Hotel Rwanda (2004) Nominated for an Oscar (Hotel Rwanda) Chiwetel Ejiofor London He's played a slave in two dramas, Amistad and 12 years a slave, but he has also been in comedies and action movies. Known For 12 Years a Slave 12 Years a Slave (2013) Children of Men Children of Men (2006) American Gangster American Gangster (2007) 2012 2012 (2009) Wesley Snipes Bronx, New York City Had an intense career as an action hero, becoming one of the first truly successful comic book action heroes: Blade. He got busted for not filing his tax returns and for owing the US government about $20 million dollars. He went to prison for years, but got out. Was in a trilogy. Known For Blade (1998) Passenger 57 (1992) New Jack City (1990) Demolition Man (1993) André Benjamin Oh, wait, this is Andre 3000 from Outkast. Known For The Great Gatsby (2013) 8 Mile (2002) Idlewild (2006) 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) Anthony Mackie Known For Captain America, The Winter Soldier (2014) The Hurt Locker The Hurt Locker (2008) Million Dollar Baby Million Dollar Baby (2004) The Adjustment Bureau The Adjustment Bureau (2011) Real Steel Real Steel (2011) James Earl Jones Known For The Lion King The Lion King (1994) Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) Conan the Barbarian Conan the Barbarian (1982) Won an Oscar for a lifetime achievement in film. He also has a Tony, a Grammy and an Emmy. His voice has been in a trilogy. Cuba Gooding Jr. Bronx, New York His biggest role, the one he won an Oscar for, was for an ultra-confident, outspoken football star, but many of his other roles are of soft-spoken, polite characters. Picture Cuba Gooding Jr. with a gun in his hand. You can't, can you? Jerry Maguire (1996) As Good as It Gets As Good as It Gets (1997) Men of Honor Men of Honor (2000) What Dreams May Come What Dreams May Come (1998) Won Oscar for best in a supporting role: Jerry Maguire (1996) Voice over: Home on the Range (2004) Terrence Howard Chicago, Illinois I like Terrence Howard. I think he might be a little too honest for Hollywood, or the identity of his characters, smooth and crafty, must influence the people he works with. Known For Iron Man Iron Man (2008) Prisoners Prisoners (2013) Hustle & Flow Hustle & Flow (2005) The Brave One The Brave One (2007) Nominated for an Oscar (Hustle and Flow) Voice Over: The Princess and the Frog (2009) Taye Diggs Rochester, New York Taye Diggs was mostly a television and theatre actor until he was in Chicago (the musical). I guess he is still more famous as a television actor, because he was on Private Practice for five years. He is a musical guy, very good looking. Known For Chicago Chicago (2002) Private Practice Private Practice (2007)The Way of the Gun (2000) How Stella Got Her Groove Back (2001) Djimon Hounsou Benin (West Africa) Looks tough and rural. Attractive, sandblasted. Plays physically strong characters. Was in Amistad, Blood Diamond and Gladiator, so he's played pretty much every kind of slave. Known For Gladiator Gladiator (2000) Blood Diamond Blood Diamond (2006) The Island The Island (2005) Constantine Constantine (2005) Nominated for two Oscars: Blood Diamond (2006) and In America (2002) Voice Over: How to Train your Dragon 2 Dennis Heysburnt He's probably best known as the Alstate voice guy, or maybe he is best known as the president from 24. He actaully might be best known as the boss from The Unit television show. I know him as the driver/cook who is a last-minute addition to the best bank crew in movie history, Heat. Known For Heat (1995) Major League (1989) Voice Over: Wreck-It Ralph, Mr. Peabody & Sherman Mos Def Brooklyn, New York Plays timid, streetwise characters and has a unique, pointed voice. The Italian Job (2003) Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry (2002) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) 16 Blocks (2006) Chiwetel Ejiofor London, UK A british actor, a leading man, not cast as a tough guy. Known For 12 Years a Slave 12 Years a Slave (2013) Children of Men Children of Men (2006) American Gangster American Gangster (2007) 2012 2012 (2009) Nominated for 1 Oscar (12 years a slave) Ice Cube Los Angeles, CA Starting as a rapper in Compton, California, he started his flim career playing an urban gangster, but found a new talent writing films for black audiences, such as the comedy Friday and its sequels. He had a couple of starring roles in action movies, and lately has been a staple in summer comedies. Plays a scowling tough guy. Known For Friday Friday (1995) Boyz n the Hood Boyz n the Hood (1991) 21 Jump Street 21 Jump Street (2012) Next Friday Next Friday (2000) Voice Over: Book of Life (2014) Common Chicago, Illinois Started as a rapper, plays agile good guys in action movies. Had a starring role in the television Western Hell on Wheels. Won an Emmy. Known For Smokin' Aces (2006) Wanted (2008) Now You See Me (2013) Terminator Salvation (2009) Larenz Tate Bell Gardens, California. Sometimes plays a young hustler with a mustache Known for Known For Menace II Society Menace II Society (1993) The Postman The Postman (1997) Ray Ray (2004) A Man Apart A Man Apart (2003) John Boyega UK Plays a strong, quiet character. Leading man. I am a fan of Attack the Block, and I know John was selected for Star Wars 7, so I'm just going to include him here and assume that he will be a star. Known For Attack the Block Attack the Block (2011) Imperial Dreams Imperial Dreams (2014) My Murder My Murder (2012) Junkhearts Junkhearts (2011) Comedians Chris Rock Tracy Morgan Orlando Jones Eddie Griffin George Sharperson Clifton Powell L.L. Cool J. Daryl Chase Harry Belafonte Andre Braugher Avery Brooks Bill Cosby Michael Dorn Bill Duke Charles S. Dutton Frankie Faison Danny Glover Louis Gossett Jr. Dennis Haysbert Ernie Hudson Samuel L. Jackson James Earl Jones Yaphet Kotto Delroy Lindo Garrett Morris Joe Morton Bill Nunn Clarke Peters Ben Vereen Billy Dee Williams Clarence Williams III Robert Wisdom